Heat storing hot-air circulating apparatus



March 30, 1948.

HEAT STORING HOT AIR CIRCULATING APPARATUS L. wARTEs 2,438,834

3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Dec. 14, 1944 LLOYD L. M/TES INVENTOR.

March 3o, 194s. L. L, 'WARTES HEAT STORING HOT AIR CIRCULATING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-.Sheet 2 'Filed Deo. 14, 1944 LLOYD L, VVA/2755 INVENTOR.

BY d 9M/M Afforncy March 30, 1948. L. L. wAR'n-:s 2,438,834

HEAT STORING HOT AIR CIRCULTING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 14, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Mar. 30, 1948 HEAT STORING HOT-AIR CIRCULATING APPARATUS Lloyd L. Wartes, Opportunity, Wash.

Application December 14, 1944, Serial No. 568,163

7 Claims. (Cl. 21B-38) The present invention relates to heating apparatus and more particularly to heating apparatus which is adapted for utilization of off-peak electrical energy.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a heating apparatus comprising a relatively simple, low cost heat storage reservoir within which heat may be accumulated through dissipation of electrical energy therein during off-peak load periods, such as during the night and early morning hours, and which heat may be utilized as required during other periods of the day. Such heating apparatus as has been designed heretofore for utilization of oli-peak electrical energy has certain disadvantages such as high initial cost, high maintenance cost or low eiciency. It is a further object of the Dresent invention to overcome these defects and disadvantages of the prior art structures.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved heating apparatus of the type described in which the heat storage reservoir serves also as the heat exchanger when heating is required.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved heating apparatus of the type described of the circulating air type in which loss of heat when heating is not required is substantially prevented.

These and further objects of the invention will be pointed out in the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings while the features of novelty will be set forth with greater particularity in the appended claims.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a heating apparatus constructed in accordance with one modification of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of a heating apparatus constructed in accordance with a second modification of the invention; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line ll-il f Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram illustrating the control system for the heating apparatus of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the modication illustrated in Figs. l and 2 the heating apparatus therein shown comprises a relatively large tank having an outer Wall I0 and upper and lower walls II and I2, respectively, which tank is adapted for containing a relatively large volume oi water or other suitable heat storage liquid. An air passageway I5 is provided through the tank and which, in this particular modification is illustrated as being dened by the cylindrical wall I5 extending vertically through the center of the tank. The tank is surrounded by a relatively thick heat insulating enclosure Il, an inlet I3 being provided therethrough at the lower end of the passageway I5 and an outlet I9 therethrough at the upper end of the passage I5. A heat insulated closure member or damper 20 is provided for the outlet I9, the member 20 being supported upon the end of a lever 2I pivoted as at 22 and by means of which the member 20 may be moved between open and closed positions.

A plurality of electric immersion heater units 23V are mounted in the lower portion of the tank and having suitable terminals brought out through the heat insulating enclosure for connection with a source of current supply.

The tank IIJ is supported upon a plurality of legs 24 resting upon the floor, the space beneath the tank being enclosed by a shell 25. Air is adapted to be supplied through the duct 26 to the space within the shell 25 beneath the tank I0 and, while not necessary to the practice of the present invention it may be desirable to provide a humidifying or spray jet 2'I, a filter unit 28 and a condenser unit 29 within the duct portion immediately adjacent the base of the structure. As a further renement germicidal lamps such as indicated at 3l may also be conveniently mounted within the space beneath the tank. Suitable blower means as indicated at 33 are provided within the shell 25 for forcing air upwardly through the passage I5.

A heat transfer iin unit 35 is provided in the upper end of the passage I5 and which, as illustrated more clearly in the right hand portion of the view of Fig. 2 comprises a plurality of radially extending sheets which at their outermost edges are mounted in a thermally conductive relation to the wall I 6. The air passing upwardly through the passage I5 will be preliminarily heated from cylindrical Wall IG and nally by the lin unit 35. Mounted upon the upper end of the enclosure .II above the outlet I9 is an air distribution chamber 38 to which may be connected the various ducts 39 for conveying the heated air to the various rooms of the building.

The closure member 2B is relatively heavily insulated so that in the closed position thereof there will be a minimum of heat loss therethrough. By virtue of the fact that the closure member 2U in the closed position positively precludes circulation of air through the passage I5 there will be a minimum of heat lost from the heat storage reservoir during such periods of time as when heating is not required or when heat is being stored in the heat storage liquid. In the Operation of the heating apparatus, which will be more fully described hereinafter, the closure member 20 will be maintained closed at all times when the driving motor for the blower 33 is de-energized. Thus when the room thermostatis inl` the oi position there will be no loss vci*K heat from the storage reservoiry except that through the heat insulating enclosure l1 which may readily be kept at a minimum by suitable selection f the insulating material and quantity or thickness thereof. The closure member 2U may be controlled by a regulating motor device 40, a counter weight 4l being` provided for balancing the weight of the member 25)' and lessening the load on the devic'elili; Y

In the modification previously described. an air passageway is provided through the center of the heat storage reservoir or tankrand while suclra construction facilitates the application vof theheatfinsulatinglenclosure around the outer around thefeterio'r ofthe-tank n the further modification ofthe-invention illustrated in Figs. 3- and 41 the hea-texchange passageways are so arranged; f

Referring now to the modilication illustrated in Figs-.- S'fandi ata-nk indicated generally at 45 is shown comprising an-outer cylindrical shell d6, a top Wallin anda bottom -vvall 'd8.4 The tank e5 is adapted-fdr containing -a-suitable heat-storage liquidsuch aslv tratenY Mounted within the lower portion ot the tanl--arevaplurality of electric irn- Inersion' heater units 'A 49 whicharev particularly adapted to be'T energiz'edgduring predetermined Ofrealepe'rigds Surroundin-gthe tank'dis-an outer shell 5l which sp'pacedsubstantiallyuniformly from the cylindrical 'tanlg'wallfedening an air passageway'' therebetvs'feen,` while the upper portion 52 of` thesljiellslopes lupwardly and converges toward a Acentral openingV 5K3:` l Aiplurality of radially arlaneesilns Wingene-,between the Milk 'Well 46 and-theouterrshellfl ytheA inner edges of the iins sjbeing' securedgisuchas'by tack welding, to the wall y476l in .,a. gQQQ1S.thermalconductive relation. Extending across the'. topwal lj1 4fl ofthe tank'are a plurality 'or relatively long insfl'which extend fromithc Outermdst. @gleeoftner tank ist@ the Center thereon the innerends ofthe ils 5,1 beine securedgas byr-weldingnto a hub-member 58; Arranged b ctweiithfe; outer ends 0f the ns 57er@ a plurality of relatively shortiins 59which extend betweenthe top 4'( .of the ytank andthe upwardly springend portion'- 52 ,of .theouter shell, the inner ends of the finsl 59 terminating substantially at the,edgelofthlopening 53.V B oth the fins El metal, Surrounding the shell 5l-52 is a rela-1 tively thick enclosure 64 of a suitable heat insulating material in order substantially to prevent lcss of heat from the enclosed reservoir. An inlet opening 65 is provided through the heat insulating `enclosure 6d communicating with the lower end of the side passage around the'bottom ofthe shelled! andlto which' inlet. may be connected' an air duct suchas 65.' An outlet operL'ng is also provided through the heat insulating enclosure communicating with the opening 53 in the shell roof 52 and with the air passage above the tank '65. The outlet opening is adapted to belclosed by a relatively heavily insulated closure member ordamper el which closure member is hingedly connected to the end of a lever arm ES; pivoted' as at 6i) and connected for control by a suitable regulating device 'il A counterweight 'l2 is also connected to the outer end of the arm d8 whereby the closuremember 6l may be adjusted more readily between the open :and closed positions by theldevice li. A hood l5 surrounds the outlet'ofth'eair passageway in a suitably spaced relation abovev the closure member el and to whichmay be connected the various hot air distribution ducts l.

The cold air may be returned to the heating apparatus by means of a suitable motor' driven blower indicated at E@ connected to the inlet duct If desired-a humidiiying spray l,V an air filter 32 and a condenser unit (i3 maybe'arranged within the duct section @t outside of the shell 5 i. Germicidal'lamps may be arranged within the space around the -bottomoi the side passage 5t As in the case vof the previously describedmodication thev driving motor for theblower -fis interconnected with the control'means forthe operating device lll for the' passage closure member 'l so that-the opening 53 above thereservoir will be sealed shut at all times when the blower is not in operation andto prevent escape of heat during such periods of time as when heating-is not required. y f

Referring Y nowto the l schematic diagrani-- of Fig. 5 the electrical control system for the heating A apparatus of either Vmodification will now be described. The apparatus is-adapted to-be energized from a suitable sourceof supply-indicated by the conductors 38; 89 and 93,- through the-master control. switch 9 l.- TheV energization ofthe immersion" heater units 23 -is-controlled ill-and 'lto the -supply-conductors 88 andai,-

the time switch being provided-with-control contacts-indicated at 9S, one of the'contacts .being shownconnected `tothe conductor al; The time switch maybe adiusted--so'that-the control contacts 99 vare moved-tothe closed position-during predetermined-olT-peak hours suchas from midnight to fivel a. rn., and upon closure thereof completes :an energizing` circuit through the conductor vI d l throughl the lclo'sed'contacts of the water temperatureresponsive devicey 93, the closed contacts of the -tank pressure'responsive device gli, the conductor 402, th'e winding IS offthe contactor sito the 'supply-line 88, Upon the energizationcfthe-'coili'lSg-L the contacterv S5'is moved tol-the closed position V`whereupon the immersion heater units 23 are connected to the source'of supply. Upon-eithera rise in temperature ofthe water to the upperliinit condition or disrupted causing opening of the contactor 95 and di-sconnection of the heater units 23.

A suitable thermostat device may be provided within the enclosure, or room, to be supplied with heat from the storage reservoir and which thermostat may be provided with contacts, one of which may be connected by conductor |06 to the supply line 89 and the other through conductor |01 to the control winding of an electromagnetic switch |08 and from there to the supply line 90. Upon closure of the thermostat contacts and energization of the winding of switch |08 an energizing circuit is established through the conductors |09 to the motor device 40 provided for operating the closure member 20 for the air passage l5. The device 40 may beso arranged that upon energization thereof the closure member 20, will be opened and upon the de-energization thereof, the member 20 will be restored to the closed position. The driving motor I I connected to the blowers 33 is also connected for energization from the conductors |09 simultaneously with' the device 40. It will be obvious, therefore, that whenever the blowers 33 are operated the air passage l5 through the heat storage unit is opened and, conversely, when the operation of the blowers is discontinued the air passage is immediately closed to prevent loss of heat fro the heat storage reservoir.

Upon the closure of the contacts of the switch |03 an energizing circuit is also established through the conductors ||3 through the ballast device ||4 for the germicidal lamps 3|. The water supply to the condenser 29 and humidifier spray jets 21 may be arranged for control by the humidostat ||9 and electromagnetically controlled valve |20 which is adapted to be energized through the transformers H8 and conductors In the description of the control system as given with particular reference to the modication of Figs. 1 and 2, it will Ibe apparent that the same control system is equally applicable to the other modification of the heating apparatus as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

While the invention is not necessarily so limited, it is preferred that the heat storage reservoirs be capable of operation at relatively high pressures, that is, of the order of 130 lbs. to take advantage of the inherently greater B. t. u. storage capacity of the water at such pressures. The tanks may readily 'be made to withstand such normal operating pressures while suitable safety devices may be provided for preventing excessive increase above a pre-determined maximum pressure. A suitable safety valve (not shown) may also be provided as a further precautionary measure. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the volume of water is sealed within the storage tank, and since there are no connections to the tank, whatever, for circulation of the water therefrom, there can be no loss of water and hence it should never be necessary to add any make-up water except following operation of the emergency blow off valve. For initially filling the tank, and for draining the same, as for servicing, suitable pipe connections may be made thereto as may be required.

Having described the principle of the invention in what is considered to be preferred em- 6 bodiments thereof, it is desired that it be unders stood that the speciiic details shown are merely illustrative and that the invention may be car-1 ried out by other means.

Iclaim:

1. A heating apparatus comprising a reservoir' containing a heat exchange liquid, an electric heating element immersed in the liquid in said reservoir, means including wall portions of said reservoir defining an air duct, a plurality of fins arranged in a heat exchanging relation with respect to the liquid in said reservoir and extending into said duct, a heat insulating enclosurefor said reservoir and said duct, an air inlet tov said duct, an outlet for said duct, a hood surrounding said outlet, air distribution ipes connected to said hood, blower means for forcing air through said duct, heat insulated closure meansv for said duct outlet for precluding iiow of air therefrom, means for opening said closure means, control means for said blower and said closure means whereby said blower is turned on simultaneously with the opening of said closure means and vice versa.

2. A heating apparatus comprising a reservoir for containing a quantity of heat exchange fluid, a plurality of electric heating elements immersed in the fluid within said reservoir, an air duct, a plurality of fins arranged in a heat conductive relation with respect to the fluid in said reservoi-r extending transversely of said duct, a heat insulating enclosure for said reservoir and said duct, an air inlet through said enclosure to said duct, an air outlet through said enclosure from said duct, a hood surrounding said outlet, air distribution pipes connected to said hood, and a heat insulated closure member for said outlet and means for shifting said closure member between open and closed positions.

3. A heating apparatus comprising a tank for containing water, electric immersion heater units mounted in the lower portion of said tank, means including wall portions of said tank defining an air passageway, said wall portions serving to transfer heat from said water to air flowing through said passageway, a heat insulating enclosure for said tank and said passageway, an inlet through said enclosure for said passageway, an outlet through said enclosure for said passageway, a hood surrounding said'outlet, air distribution pipes communicating with said hood, and an adjustable heat insulated closure member for said outlet.

4. A heating apparatus comprising a tank for containing water, electric immersion heater units mounted in the lower portion of said tank, a relatively large air passageway extending vertically through said tank, a heat insulating enclosure means for said tank, an inlet through said enclosure means to said passageway, an outlet through said enclosure means for said passageway, a heat insulated closure member for said outlet, said member in the closed position resting upon the edge portion of said enclosure means defining said outlet, means connected to said member for lifting said member vertically away from said outlet to an open position, a hood surrounding said outlet and said member, and air distribution pipes connected to said hood.

5. A heating apparatus comprising a tank for containing water, electric immersion heater units mounted in the lower portion of said tank, a relatively large cylindrical passageway extending vertically through the center of said tank, a heat insulating enclosure for said tank, an inlet through said enclosure to lsaid Dassagewey#V all outlet through said enclosure' for saidlV passage# way, an adjustable heat insulated'closure member for said outlet, a hoodsurroundingfsaidoutlet and said member,f and means extending-into said hood and connected tos'aidfmemberfor lifting said member away from'saildv outlet.

6. A heating apparatus comprising. ay tank for containing water, electric immersion heater units mounted in the lower portion'of said tankfa heat insulating enclosure surrounding said tank in a spaced relation with respect thereto, aniniet for introducing air into the lower portion of the space between said tank and saidl enclosure, an outlet communicating with said space 'at the upper end of said enclosuerheat exchanging fins secured to the walls ofY saidtank andextending across'said space providing fheat'transfer surfaces, a closure member Vior the upper end of said space for'preciuding passage of air therethrough, means for adjusting said closure member between openand closed positions, a-hood surrounding said member on the outside of Vsaid enclosure and spaced from said member s'o as to permit openingj and closing movements v4thereof, and ai-r distribution pipes communicatingwith said hood.

7. A heating apparatus-comprising atankfor containing water or the like heat exchange fluid, electric immersion heater units mounted in the lower portion-of said'tank, a heat insulating enclosure surrounding 'the sidesandtop'of said tank, a. passage between Athe Ysider wall-lof vm-unicating with said hood.

S said tank and said enclosure., the upper portion of vsaid enclosure being spaced from the top of saidtank, a plurality of radially arranged plates extending upwardly from the top of said tank across the space between said tank and the upper portion of said enclosure, said passageway along the side of said tank communicating with said space at the topiof 'said tank, an opening through the upper portion of said enclosure communieating with said space above said tank, an adinstable heat insulated closure member for said opening, a hood mounted on the upper portion of said enclosure around said opening and over said member, and air distribution pipes com- LLOY'D L. VARTES.

REFERENCES CITED Y The following references are of record in the Yfilev of thisV patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS STEER, REFERENCES Dana' et al., Bulletin No. 46, State College of Washington, Pullman, Washington, July 1935. 

